Is There A Fear Of Weight Loss Success?

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Finally, my clothes are beginning to sag which is so motivating! Even though they are not sagging a lot, every bit counts. I try not to get too excited because sometimes when I start "moving" the pounds I will step into a red zone and re-gain the same lost pounds. Someone close pointed out to me that there was such thing as "fear of success" and if that didn't give me something interesting to ponder on. Who doesn't want success and who would even dare to fear being healthy? I think one of my biggest fears would be the word "unhealthy" which explains why I have returned to SP to become healthier. I would be curious to know what others think about this one? When it comes to weight loss, do some people really have fear of dropping the pounds...Is that why we sometimes regress? ?

A very good friend of mine has that fear of success - whenever she is within 2-3 lbs. of her goal weight, she starts to panic and sabotages herself. Now that she is aware of the problem, she hopes to overcome it this time around. It's a real issue for some people.

I think it may be fear of failure-so we subconsciously sabotage ourselves and then engage in some negative self talk just to seal the deal. I also think losing weight is such a personal, but public, accomplishment. I was fearful about others noticing-somehow if people notice you losing weight, it affirms that you needed to lose weight-at least that is what my mixed up head would say. Thank goodness I got beyond that irrational self talk and can embrace and actually celebrate when "others notice". Best to you!PJ

Fear of success is old as the hills in all areas of life. The reasons are many. In terms of weight loss, here are just a few that are well-known:

a) What if I still don't find a [girl] [boy] friend?b) I won't be hidden under the fat any more. People will know who I am.c) What if I do find a [girl] [boy] friend? He/she will want me to be present.d) I don't deserve to feel good.

Does that give you enough of an idea so that you can guess at some other fears? If you're exempt from them, good.

It might be facing your fears. High expectations come with losing weight that you will find more friends, be more popular... belle of the ball syndrome. The fear comes in that it is another challenge and journey and what if you fail? What if life doesn't become what you expect? Just my thoughts.